The wind energy sector in Ireland is looking to attract skilled construction workers for a variety of roles across the industry as preparations are made for a significant increase in build out which will see a total of €4.7 billion invested in onshore wind energy projects between now and 2020.

A well attended seminar, ‘Construction Opportunities in Wind Energy’, hosted by the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA), in association with the Construction Industry Federation, heard that 2014 is poised to be a record year in terms wind power development.

IWEA said that 60% of member wind companies in Ireland are likely to hire more people in 2014, this in addition to the more than 3,400 people already employed in the sector.

Speaking at the seminar Kenneth Matthews, CEO of IWEA, said: “We estimate that 2014 and 2015 will see a significant growth in the wind energy sector as we look to double the production of clean indigenous and renewable energy. The economic benefits of this growth will be reaped at a national level, but also at local level where job opportunities will become available across a multitude of trade disciplines within the construction industry.”

Through its Wind Skillnet programme, IWEA has run more than 30 seminars and workshops over the past two years aimed at up-skilling and reskilling those either within, or hoping to join the wind sector.